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Mark Rodell
Trad climber
Bangkok
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I didn't meet John until the mid-eighties. Saw him in the Pals and once at the Leap and of course when he would pass through Mt. Shasta I'd get a call to see him at Zanger's. I wish him and all those who were close to him peace.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Sad
RIP John
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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I'm very sorry to hear about John
Although I never met him he was legendary.
I feel a particular angst about his accident since I'm going that way on my motorcycle on Monday.
Fred Glover
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MisterE
Social climber
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Oh, man - more bad news.
Condolences to family and friends. Just awful.
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hossjulia
Social climber
Eastside
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Just returned from some climbing in Tuolumne to this. I did not know John by anything other than reputation, this is tragic.
My heart and prayers go out to his family and friends.
(Now I'm really going to be nervous of deer popping out of the brush while I'm on my road bike.)
"The Lord whispered his name and his days here were complete."
This is beautiful Doug, worth repeating, thank you.
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Alois
Trad climber
Idyllwild, California
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I'm so sorry to hear this. Met John a few times ice climbing at June Lake, at Lee Vining and in the Sierra backcountry. He gave me bits and pieces about climbs to do, ice climbs that were done and generally, was the nicest guy one could ever talk to. RIP John.
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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I remember John from the PSOM days. If my memory serves me right, he was present for Bard's birthday bash at Chaney's Cabin on that long ago night in '77. Gave me grief about havng to hike, very drunk and high, back up to my tent at Sam Mack. He had his share of troubles, but don't we all. Hell'of a nice guy.
My condolences to all of John's friends and family.
Tony
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superbum
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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John Fischer & Jerry Adams, in July of 1979 stood atop Mt. Agassiz, after seven days of exposed, high granite ridge climbing. They had started at Southfork Pass and could see below them Jigsaw Pass, and the way home.
These men showed us the way. My friend Adam Penny followed them next, as did a few others I am close too, all adding personality and possibility to this route. In August 2009, my closest partner, Cullen Kirk and I added our own chapter. Even though far removed from the gear and experiences of John and Jerry, we still felt the same exposure and touched the same stones. I did not know John personally, but hearing of his passing today made me think about his climb..and how it has become, for a select few, our climb as well. Here's to you John, and all the others who have ridden the big wave that are the Palisades.
Victor Lawson
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, ec... thanks for the crossssss-post, i got to learn about john... so i left a note on his passing, there too...
god bless...
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
suspendedhappynation
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So long John you will be missed.
Gave me my first job guiding up at the PSOM camp. AB and I were hiking up in the dark one summer night and we run into John. Sat down on the rock steps and bs'ed etc.... as we were getting ready to go he asks me what I'm doing fro the summer. One of the best jobs and bosses I've ever had. Very knowledgeable. An artist. Terrific teacher. Loved the High Sierra.
RIP
TC
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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f*#k!...guess this is the online memorial for john...? how sad...stunned to say the least...another legend escapes this plane and hopefully enters into a better one..? rj
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R.B.
Trad climber
Land of the Lahar
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I am sad to hear of this ... I HATE hearing fellow climbers being off'ed by something other than climbing. This totally reinforces my opinion that motorcycles are SUICIDE ROCKETS ... use at great risk.
Even thought I never met John, my condolences to his family and friends.
RB
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treeman
climber
mule city
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very sad to hear this.my sincerest condolences to john's family and many friends.
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Annie
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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My heart is broken from this sad sad loss.
The last e-mail I got from John:
"A & J, 'saw your notice in June Lk looking for a place to rent...good luck on that! Sure was an enjoyable time at the Guides Ball!! It was so nice to meet you tow and every one else. Thanks for the photos! Not such good weather or timing for going for Smokes' Course in the Buttermilk. Later for that. But there is a short 'winter route' that Smoke used to do called Blockey Top an out rigger of the Thungston Hills...Perhaps we can do that after the snow line is at 5K or so? A very wonderful Christmas to you!!!
John F"
Amazing to think this is the last the I'll hear from him and that we won't get to do the 'winter route'. A good reminder to always follow through since you never know if you'll get a chance again.
My heart, tears, and thoughts go to his family and friends.
Annie Trujillo
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jedster
climber
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I was starting to think I knew the Palisades pretty well when I met John. We talked shop ever so briefly, and it was clear he knew those peaks like the back of his hand: "We called that one Winnie the Pooh-nicle" and "in this precise crack near the summit of xxx peak is a bandaid can with an original Clyde register in it." etc... As Annie mentioned above, we all had plans to get out and climb. Shoulda, coulda, woulda just don't cut it. I seem to mourn more deeply the friends that might have been...
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salad
climber
Escondido
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wow. what a bummer. i had the opportunity to climb with john one weekend back around 94 or so. i was just getting into climbing and didnt have any partners so i took a class out at june lake through southern yosemite mountain guides.
clearly one cant get get a true understanding of a person over the course of two days, but i remember leaving that weekend thinking of what mans man john was, dude seemed tough.
lighting one cig with the old one while belaying, that one stuck with me. also i think he told me that he had never taken a fall while on lead.
rest in peace john fishcer, thanks for being the one and only person i have ever climbed frozen water with.
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Doug Tomczik
climber
Bishop
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To echo the last few comments; among other areas of the Eastside, John's knowledge of the Palisades is unsurpassed. He did tell me that he never fell while leading, which pronounces his ability as a climber as he put up and climbed some burly stuff. I was looking forward to roping up with him this summer. Wishing everyone the best. -Doug
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howie doin'
climber
Big Pine, CA
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Rest in peace John. The Eastern Sierra just prematurely lost another one of its great mountain minstrels. Shocking and tragic news.
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ristretto
Boulder climber
Bishop
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Really sad.
Just last week he was in the Black Sheep spinning tales about doing first ascents down in baja at the Gran Trono Blanco with Allen Pietrasanta - Something about 2 or 3 days on some huge ridge climb. Great story.
It's hard to believe that he won't come by again.
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apogee
climber
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So very sorry to hear this sad news. I only knew John by his reputation and legacy in the Sierra, but it will never be matched.
Another thread in the tapestry of Sierra climbing has ended, but his impact lives on in the countless people that he inspired. Thank you, John.
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